Internet of Things offer a variety of solutions to connect sensors and integrated systems to the internet and expand the way we use the internet today.

This thesis is part of the EXACT research project where the aim is to explore physical exercise through exergames. The combination of exergames and internet of things is, as of now, a relatively unexplored field. This thesis will help create a platform that allows the creation of exergames.

In this thesis a framework was created for developing exergames using internet of things, and it has been evaluated and tested with game developers. The development of this framework has followed the principles of a Human User-Centered Design process, where the thesis completes one iteration.

The technology chosen is based on a set of criteria that was researched before the development of the framework started. These criteria fit the requirements of developing exergames using internet of things.

To realize the framework, two tile types were prototyped, each containing one Arduino based system on a chip, of the type ESP8266, with varying sensors and actuators fit for pervasive exergames. These sensors include a Time of Flight sensor and an inertial measurement unit. In addition, a Raspberry Pi working as an access point with an MQTT broker, was used as a communication layer between the devices.

The framework itself is partly targeting the Unity game engine. As such, it has been tested with Unity game developers with varying degrees of expertise, through usability testing.

The usability testing consisted of two workshops, where the participants first got to familiarize themselves with the framework before being given a task. The results of the workshop were based on System Usability Scale forms, code review, and semi-structured interviews. Based on the results of the tests, it was established that the criteria for the framework mostly covered the game developers’ needs. However, there was a consensus that the frameworks should be seamlessly integrated into Unity, or a more Unity-based solution.

This study shows that game developers using the Unity game engine were interested in a framework that enables them to use internet of things in conjunction with regular game engines.